Experiences with a vehicular cloud computing platform Jason Flinn, T.J. Giuli, and Brian Noble...
Transcript of Experiences with a vehicular cloud computing platform Jason Flinn, T.J. Giuli, and Brian Noble...
Experiences with a vehicular cloud computing platform
Jason Flinn, T.J. Giuli, and Brian Noble
University of Michigan and Ford Motor Co.
The Goal
A senior-level course around emerging technologies:• Vehicular sensors and interfaces• Cloud storage and computation• Widespread wireless connectivity• Social networking platforms
• Partnership between Ford and Michigan• Class called “Cloud Computing in the Commute”
Jason Flinn
The Hardware Platform
Ford research hacked up a Fiesta to include:• 10.4” LCD color touch-screen • x86 PC running Windows 7• Wireless connectivity via 3G mobile broadband• Access via CAN bus to telematics, GPS,
infotainment
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The software platformIntegrated sensors via Microsoft Robotics Studio
Also provided:• Network access services• Services for interfacing with social-networking sites• Voice recognition, text-to-speech
Deployed software via a virtual machine• Allowed development without access to vehicle• Included APIs for testing with location and sensor traces• Minimized student time spent with configuration• Porting to vehicle environment was surprisingly easy
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Green Ride Challenge
Promotes ride sharing to save fuel, costs• Structured as a game - earn points for transporting
friends• Real-time updates of who needs rides where• Agreement protocol for arranging ride-share
• UI runs in browser• Connectivity issues
• Back end is cloud DB
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FuelTracker
Measure instantaneous fuel economy:• Compare to previous economy at same location• Compare to economy of others driving same route• Leverage social aspects to share green-driving tips• Paul Coldren, Clayton Willey, Petch Wannisorn, Amy
Kuo
Substantial back-endcomputation
Cloud DB
Web interface forcomplex stats
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CaravanTrack
Helps co-ordinate a multi-vehicle road trip• For each vehicle, shows location, fuel, status, etc.• Later modified to use voice, steering wheel
controls• Collin Hockey, Sangmi Park, Joe Phillips, John
Ciccone
Simple structure• DB backend
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Challenge: App participation required
CaravanTrack aggregates sensing data from all vehicles• Speed• Fuel• Stop preferences
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The Road Trip
CaravanTrack team tested their application on a road trip• Journey from MI to Maker Faire in CA.• Four Fiestas – two with integrated platforms• Sponsored by Ford “American Journey 2.0”• All ran CaravanTrack• One vehicle (“AJ the Fiesta”) also ran social apps
• Connectivity was generally quite good (except in Nevada)
• Some unexpected benefits of CaravanTrack
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Lessons Learned: Network ConnectivityHosting interactions among vehicles in the cloud works
well• Can easily handle human speeds for social apps• Connectivity usually sufficient on major roads • However, bandwidth can be a critical issue• Good performance needed for short, interactive
msgs.
For next time:• Would like to bring Intentional Network to platform• Allow background transfers w/o affecting
interactive apps• Utilize networks other than cellular when available
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Lessons Learned: Sensing
Many interesting apps used vehicle as sensor platform• Mostly limited to basic sensing: fuel, location,
speed, etc.• Sensor data often shared among vehicles• Driver is also an excellent sensor
However, substantially more sensors available:• Steering, breaks, temperature, seat position, cell
phone presence, engine performance data, cameras (internal and external), …
Vehicle is a great platform for participatory sensing:• Next time: add and enable more sensors
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Lessons Learned: UI still a Problem
Designing for vehicular UI very challenging:• Must minimize distraction by keeping driver’s eyes on
road• No dialogs with timeouts• All actions restartable• Only one button per screen region (four corners)• Use alternative modalities (voice, steering wheel
controls)• Helped a lot to have design student(s) on each team
Many successful apps included a Web component:• Complicated set-up done at a computer• Simpler interface used in the vehicle• More detailed information available later from PC.
Jason Flinn
Thanks to…
Timur AlperovichT.J. GiuliBrett HigginsBrian NobleVenkatesh PrasadAzarias RedaDavid Watson
Jason Flinn